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Northern Virginia Civil War images collection

Access and use

Location of collection:: George Mason University

2400 Fenwick Library

Special Collections Research Center

Fenwick Library MS2FL

George Mason University

Fairfax, VA 22030

Contact for questions and access:: POC: Mieko Palazzo

Email: speccoll@gmu.edu

Phone: (703) 993-2220

Fax: (703) 993-2669

Web: scrc.gmu.edu

Restrictions:: Collection is open to research.
Terms of access:: There are no restrictions.

Preferred citation:: Northern Virginia Civil War images collection, Collection #C0150, Special Collections and Archives, George Mason University.

Summary

Extent:: 3 linear feet
Creator:: George Mason University. Special Collections and Archives.
Abstract:: The collection contains images and maps depicting Northern Virginia. A majority of the images are contemporary illustrations of the Civil War in Virginia. Formats include wood engravings, steel engravings, lithographs, chromolithographs, and a manuscript.
Language:: English
Preferred citation:: Northern Virginia Civil War images collection, Collection #C0150, Special Collections and Archives, George Mason University.

Background

Scope and content:

The collection consists of nearly 200 images on various historical subjects in a variety of formats, including wood engravings, steel engravings, lithographs, chromolithographs, maps, and manuscripts. Most of the images depict battles and maps of the Civil War. The maps include the cities of Arlington and Alexandria and the counties of Fairfax, Loudoun and Prince William. Columbia Pike, Chain Bridge, Long Bridge, the Little River Turnpike, Centreville and Manassas all existed at the time of the Civil War and all of them are represented or referenced in these images.

Most of the Civil War images are from three periodicals: The Illustrated London News, Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper, and Harper's Weekly. They are primarily wood engravings, several of which are hand colored. Though wood engraving was invented as an illustrative technique in the 1790s, it was the later appearance of the mass illustrated newspaper that took advantage of the technique to appeal to a wide readership.

Although pictorial images comprise the majority of images in the collection, there are also numerous maps, most of which were produced by lithography. A number were produced for military purposes and employed by both the North and South alike. Maps made during the Civil War were often exceedingly accurate; their usefulness carried on into the twentieth century.

The Pictorial Battles of the Civil War

Harper's Weekly

The Soldier in Our Civil War

Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper [German Language Edition]

Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper

by Charles Magnus

The Illustrated London News

Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper

The Civil War in the United States

Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper

The Illustrated London News

Harper's Weekly

Journal Article with Print Reproductions

Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper

by A. Waud; Pictorial Battles of the Civil War

Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper [German Language Edition]

The Illustrated London News

by the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce; City Brochure with Photographs and Map

The Soldier in our Civil War

The Illustrated London News

Harper's New Monthly Magazine, No. XL - Vol. VII

The Soldier in Our Civil War

by Charles Graham; Harper's Weekly

by Bell; Harper's Weekly

by National Photo Co.

Picturesque Washington

by Bell; Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper

Published by The Gray Line Sight Seeing Tours

Published by B. S. Reynolds Co.

Published by the Post Exchange, Fort Myer, VA.

Pictorial History of the War of 1861

The Civil War in the United States

Harper's Weekly

by A. Waud; The New-York Illustrated News

Harper's Weekly

The Illustrated London News

By J. Becker; Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper

by Mr. A. R. Waud; Harper's Weekly

Harper's Pictorial History of the Civil War

The Illustrated London News

by Mr. Forbes; Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper [same image as 7.8 in folder 9]

Pictorial History of the War of 1861 [same image as 7.7 in folder 9]

by Edwin Forbes; Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper

Harper's Pictorial History of the Civil War

Same image as 20.9 in folder 10

by Edwin Forbes; The Soldier in Our Civil War

Same image as 3.4 in folder 10

by Mr. A. R. Waud; Harper's Weekly

Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper

By A. R. Waud; Harper's Weekly

The Civil War in the United States

by Mr. A. R. Waud; Harper's Weekly

Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper

Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper [German Language Edition]

by Mr. A. R. Waud; Harper's Weekly

by Mr. Mead; Harper's Weekly

Harper's Weekly

On the Shenandoah and the Chickahominy

The Illustrated London News

The Illustrated London News, 2 prints

The Illustrated London News

Pictorial Battles of the Civil War

Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper

The Youths' History of he United States

Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper

Pictorial History of the War of 1861

by Edwin Forbes

The Soldier in Our Civil War

The Illustrated London News

Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper

Harper's Weekly

The Illustrated London News

by W. Peters; Harper's Weekly

Pictorial War Record

Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper

Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper [German Language Edition]

by Mr. A. R. Waud; Harper's Weekly

Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper [German Language Edition]

by Mr. A. R. Waud; Harper's Weekly

Harper's Weekly

by T.R. Davis; Harper's Weekly

by H. Lovie; The Soldier in Our Civil War

by Walter A. Lane; The Soldier in Our Civil War

by Henry Lovie; The Soldier in Our Civil War

by H. Lovie; The Soldier in Our Civil War

The Soldier in Our Civil War

Harper's Weekly

by Mr. A. R. Waud; Harper's Weekly

by Mr. A. R. Waud; Harper's Weekly [Same image as 3.12 in folder 18]

The Illustrated London News

by Mr. A. R. Waud; Harper's Weekly [Same image as 3.10 in folder 18]

by Mr. A. R. Waud; Harper's Weekly

Harper's Weekly [same image as 20.6 in folder 20]

Harper's Weekly [same image as 20.5 in folder 20]

Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper

by Mr. A. R. Waud; Harper's Weekly

Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper

Loudon County

Harper's Weekly

The Illustrated London News

Harper's Weekly [Same as image 2.21B and 2.21C in folder 26]

by Mr. A. R. Waud; Harper's Weekly [Same image as 2.20A in folder 26]

by Mr. A. R. Waud; Harper's Weekly

Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper

The Illustrated London News

Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper

The Soldier in Our Civil War [Same image as 2.32A in folder 26]

The Soldier in our Civil War [Same image as 2.32B in folder 26]

by Edwin Forbes; The Soldier in Our Civil War

The Soldier in Our Civil War

Harper's History of the Great Rebellion

Harper's Weekly

by Edwin Forbes; The Civil War in the United States

Harper's Weekly

Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper

Harper's Weekly [Same image as 2.31 in folder 26]

Harper's Weekly

by Allen C. Redwood; Journal Article with Print Reproductions

by John Pope; Journal Article with Print Reproductions

by W. Momberger and J. C. McRae; Abbotts Civil War

by Penfield

by Mr. Edwin Forbes

Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper [German Language Edition]

Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper

by Mr. A. R. Waud; Harper's Weekly

Harper's Weekly

by Mr. Davenport; Harper's Weekly [Same image as 2.34 in folder 26]

The Illustrated London News

by Penfield; Harper's Weekly

Harper's Weekly

by F. O. C. Darley and W. Ridgway

by P. Meeder

Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper [German Language Edition]

by Edwin Forbes; Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper

Harper's Weekly [Same image as 2.12A in folder 26]

The Soldier in Our Civil War [Same image as 2.2A in folder 26]

The Soldier in our Civil War [Same image as 2.2B in folder 26]

Harper's Weekly

by Mr. Davenport; Harper's Weekly [Same image as 2.22 in folder 26]

Harper's Weekly

Harper's Weekly [Same image as 2.5A in folder 26]

By Edwin Forbes; The Civil War in the United States

by Currier and Ives

by Fisk and Russell; History of the Great Rebellion

The Civil War

Civil War in America/ War and Its Horrors

by M. D. McAlester

by Julius Bien and Co.

History of the Great Rebellion

Civil War in America, War and Its Horrors

by Capt. W. Angelo Powell

Harper's History of the Great Rebellion

by P. W. O. Koerner

by Maj. N. Michler

Harper's Weekly

by Andrew B. Graham Photo-Litho

by Rand McNally and Co.; Commercial Atlas

Rand McNally

by the Geological Survey; U.S. Geological Survey

American Automobile Association

by L. L. Poates

History of the United States

Operations in Northeastern Virginia

Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper

Harper's History of the Great Rebellion

by J. J. Young and W. Hesselbach; Surveys for Military Defenses, Sheet 1

by J. J. Young and W. Hesselbach; Surveys for Military Defenses, Sheet 2

Top Engr. Office, V.D.

Top Eng. 2d Corps

Top Engr. V.D.

Top Eng. V.D.

Top Eng. A.V.D.

Top Engr. V.D.

by J. J. Young

by W. G. Atkinson

by Brig. Gen. D.P. Woodbury

by Brig. Gen. G.K. Warren

by Capt. W. Angelo Powell

Julius Bien and Co.

by John Pilsen; Julius Bien and Co.

by Franz Kappner; Julius Bien and Co.

by the geological Survey; U.S. Geological Survey

by the Geological Survey; U.S. Geological Survey

by A. Maedel, H. S. Barnard and A. Peterson; Survey of the Coast of the United States, Coast Survey Office

The Civil War

by Waters-Son N.Y.

by G. Woolworth Oolton N.Y.

by William J. Wilson

by Charles Magnus

by Fisk and Russell N.Y.

The Soldier in Our Civil War

Harper's Pictorial History of the Civil War

By Walker & Boutall

Harper's History of the Great Rebellion

Newspaper

The Illustrated London News

by Mr. Anton Kellner; Harper's Weekly

by Mr. Davenport; Harper's Weekly

by Mr. A. R. Waud; Harper's Weekly

The New-York Illustrated News

by J. E. Taylor; Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper

Harper's Pictorial History of the Civil War

by J. Lansing and R. P. Johnson; Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper

by James Lansing; Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper

by Col. Battersby; Harper's Weekly

by R. F. Zogbaum; Harper's Weekly

By Edwin Forbes; The Civil War in the United States

By Edwin Forbes; The Civil War in the United States [Same image as 20.39 in folder 33]

The Soldier in Our Civil War

by Edwin Forbes; The Soldier in Our Civil War

Ballou's Pictorial Drawing-Room Companion

Harpers Weekly

Ballou's Pictorial

The Soldier in our Civil War

The Illustrated London News [Same image as 20.12 in folder 33]

By Edwin Forbes; The Civil War in the United States [Same image as 20.28 in folder 33]

Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper [German Language Edition]

The Illustrated London News

Harper's Weekly

Pictorial Battles of the Civil War

Pictorial History of the War of 1861 [same image as 6.17A in folder 35]

Pictorial History of the War of 1861 [same image as 6.17B in folder 35]

Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper [same image as 6.9A in folder 35]

Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper [same image as 6.9B in folder 35]

Pictorial War Record

by Mr. A. R. Waud; Harper's Weekly

Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper [same image as 1.12]

The Illustrated London News [same image as 1.6 in folder 37]

The Illustrated London News

The Illustrated London News [same image as 1.3 in folder 37]

The Illustrated London News [same image as 1.1 in folder 37]

The Illustrated London News [same image as unnumbered in folder 37]

The Illustrated London News

The Illustrated London News [same image as unnumbered in folder 37]

Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper

Picturesque America

The Illustrated London News [same image as unnumbered in folder 37]

by E. S. Hall; Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper

Harper's Weekly

by Wm. L. Sheppard; Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper

Harper's History of the Great Rebellion

Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper [2 copies]

The New York Illustrated News

by A. R. Waud; Pictorial War Record

By A. R. Waud; Harper's Weekly

Harper's Weekly

by A. R. Waud; The Pictorial Battles of the Civil War

by Johnson and Ward

by Julius Bien and Co.

by Johnson and Ward

Top Engr. Office, V.D.

Engineer Department. U.S. Army

The Illustrated London News

by Mr. Davenport; Harper's Weekly

by Mr. A. R. Waud; Harper's Weekly

Harper's Weekly [2 copies]

Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper [German Language Edition]

by Mr. A. R. Waud; Harper's Weekly

by Charles Sholt [?]; Harper's Weekly

by H. Lovie; The Soldier in Our Civil War

by Gilbert Gaul; Harpers Weekly

by Mr. A. R. Waud; Harper's Weekly

by H. Lovie; The Soldier in Our Civil War

The Soldier in Our Civil War

The Confederate Soldier in the Civil War

[same image as 19.2A]

[same image as 19.2B]

The Civil War in the United States [same image as 19.1A]

The Civil War in the United States [same image as 19.1B]

By E. Forbes; Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper

Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper

by Sol Eytinge; Harper's Weekly

Harper's Weekly

Harper's Weekly [same image as 15.4 in folder 46]

Harper's Weekly [same image as 15.3 in folder 46]

Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper

By Mr. Theodore R. Davis; Harper's Weekly

The Illustrated London News

by E. F. Mullen; Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper

Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper

Harper's Weekly

The Soldier in Our Civil War [same image as 5.7 in folder 48]

Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper

Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper [German Language Edition][same image as 5.6 in folder 48]

Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper

The Soldier in Our Civil War

Harper's Weekly (supplement)

Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper

By Gen. Barnard; Defenses of Washington

Cassell's Illustrated History of England

Harper's Weekly

Biographical / historical:

The Illustrated London News was one of the first newspapers to employ wood engravings on a wide scale. One of its artists was Frank Vizetelly (1830-1883); he covered the Civil War for British readers. Early on, he illustrated the war from the Union side but was later allowed to draw from the Confederate side. Artists like Vizetelly sometimes did more than draw, though. He acted as a messenger for Confederate General James Longstreet at the battle of Chickamauga. Vizetelly was also a staff aide for the Confederates at the battle of Fredericksburg and was present at Charleston, South Carolina, when it was besieged. Because of such personal involvement by artists, many engravings were not made by detached observers, but by active participants in history unfolding.

Frank Leslie (1821-1880) was another artist who began his career as an engraver in 1842 and eventually published his own newspaper, which he titled, Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper. The newspaper also covered the Civil War. Leslie used a large number of illustrations in his newspaper to increase circulation. Images from Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper are well represented in Northern Virginia Images Collection, including several images from the German language edition of the newspaper.

Another popular periodical of the time was Harper's Weekly. It first appeared in 1857 and became one of the most important and influential periodicals in nineteenth century America, notably during the Civil War. Two prominent artists for Harper's Weekly during this period were Alfred Waud (1828-1891) and Thomas Nast (1840-1902). Engravings by both are included in Northern Virginia Images Collection. Waud was primarily assigned to the eastern front and covered the war from the Battle of First Manassas to the Confederacy's surrender at Appomattox Court House. Thomas Nast (who later became famous for creating the roly- poly figure in red we now know as Santa Claus) worked largely in New York for most of the war. One of the major exceptions to this was when he spent time in the Union camp during the Battle of Gettysburg. Nast's sympathies were for the Union side, which, naturally, bothered Southerners, who often sent threatening letters to Nast at the Harper's Weekly office. By and large, The Illustrated London News, Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper, and Harper's Weekly illustrated the Civil War from the Northern point-of-view.

Many of today's Northern Virginia residents only know the area as a population outgrowth of Washington, D.C. Despite this cosmopolitan reputation, it was largely farm country at the time of the Civil War through World War II. Few realize that the area was the frequent battleground for large contending forces. Yet, many of the areas that are depicted in the images still exist today but under much different circumstances. Some of the areas included in these images have undergone radical cultural changes as well. An Islamic Mosque now occupies Munson Hill, which Confederate forces occupied under General J.E.B. Stuart during early days of the war.

Acquisition information:

Purchased by Special Collections and Archives in 1997-2005 from Prints Old and Rare.

Processing information:

Processed by Special Collections and Archives staff. EAD markup completed in February 2009 by Eron Ackerman and Jordan Patty. Finding aid updated by Greta Kuriger in July 2011.

Arrangement:

This collection is arranged by locality of primary image.

Indexed terms

Subjects:: Virginia--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Maps.
Virginia--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Pictorial works.
Chromolithographs.
Lithographs.
Maps.
Steel engravings.
Wood engravings.

Collection